HIGH WATERS IN SLOVENIA IN 2002

Abstract

It appears that the consequences of climate changes have also influenced the hydrological situation in Slovenia. Extreme hydrological events such as drought and floods are predominant and occurred simultaneously in Slovenia. High water levels onf Slovene rivers and lakes, high sea levels along the Slovene coast, as well as low ground water levels in northeastern Slovenia also occurred in 2003. Luckily, high waters did not cause major floods this year, as was the case in neighbouring countries. The frequency of high waters was typical, with normal floods usually occurring in autumn and torrential floods in summer. Rivers mostly flooded the characteristic flooding areas, reaching maximal discharges of up to 5-year return periods. The first high waters occurred in July, particularly in the Gorenjska region and in central Slovenia. On the other side of Slovenia, a low water situation with a hydrological drought was recorded. Low water levels were reported at that time, especially in the groundwater reservoirs in northeastern Slovenia. The minimal water levels at some groundwater gauging stations reached extreme minimal values in the observed period. High waters occurred in August, and normal yearly floods were registered in autumn.